Restaurants across the nation are slicing and dicing staff just to stay afloat. Is it any wonder why employee morale is in short supply? There is no shortage of research that supports the notion that the happiness of employees has a direct impact on customer service and sales.
If you are looking for ways to increase profits, look no further. Here are five ways to beef up employee morale in your organization and boost sales.
1. Stop slicing schedules-Owners and managers believe they are doing everyone a favor by reducing the hours of all employees, rather than reducing the size of the staff. However, employees still need to make a certain amount of money to meet their financial obligations. Job opportunities are out there for qualified staff. Don't force your well-trained employees to seek employment elsewhere. If they leave, employee morale will continue to decline and others will follow them out the door.
2. Mix things up-Life can feel a bit stale for people who are doing the same job day in and day out. Before you know it you have a bunch of bored employees on your line. A slow economy is the perfect time to cross train employees so they can wear more than one hat. Feel the energy change as employees see advancement in their future.
3. Sprinkle in more communication-Remember when you were on the other side of the counter and you felt like a mushroom because you were always kept in the dark? When work slows down, rumors move quickly throughout organizations. Kick your communication up a notch so your employees feel they are being kept in the loop.
4. Keep your cool-We know things can heat up in the kitchen and tempers can flare. That is why it is important to remind yourself to maintain your cool at all times. Keep your eye on the prize. A satisfied customer who returns with a group of their closest friends.
5. Create a healthy environment-Nothing improves employee morale more than the creation of a healthy work environment. You can begin by taking the temperature of your workforce. This can be done a number of ways including employee surveys or focus groups. Use this feedback to make changes that will improve the experience for both your employees and customers.
Beware of anyone who tries to sell you a formula for fixing employee morale in your organization. The right recipe for your restaurant will require an understanding of the ingredients you have on hand.
(C) 2009 Human Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.
Roberta Chinsky Matuson is the President of Human Resource Solutions (www.yourhrexperts.com) and has been helping companies align their people assets with their business goals. She is considered an expert in generational workforce issues. Roberta publishes a monthly newsletter 'HR Matters' http://www.yourhrexperts.com/hrjoin.cgi which is jammed with resources, articles and tips to help companies navigate through sticky and complicated HR workforce issues. Click here to read her new blog on Generation Integration. She can be reached at 413-582-1840 or Roberta@yourhrexperts.com.
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